The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Published 23 years ago
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The Mountain Forum: Learning to Communicate within a Pluralistic Network

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Summary

Abstract

The Mountain Forum is a newly formed global network in support of equitable and ecologically sustainable mountain development. Its creation and experience during its first 18 months of operation reveal a number of insights regarding information structures, cooperation between organisations, empowerment, and pluralism.

Influential factors in the development and operation of the Mountain Forum include a participant focus on vision, enlightened leadership, individual dedication, and a willingness to break out of familiar knowledge spheres and hierarchical governance structures.

The early impacts of the Mountain Forum have included innovative policy development, increased visibility for mountain issues, increased visibility for organisations working in mountainous regions, and a growing sense of community among participants. The multiplicity of voices and issues that have been heard through the Mountain Forum has created a new and commonly-held awareness of the set of social and environmental issues facing mountain regions today, and a diverse array of promising mechanisms for addressing them.

Major challenges still faced by implementers of the network include dealing with the lack of hierarchical structures, organising complex information flows, language and access difficulties, and the absence of certain stakeholder groups.



- from "Pluralism and Sustainable Forestry and Rural Development: Proceedings of an international workshop, Rome, 9-12 December 1997', pps. 181-193, FAO 1999.

Click here for the Mountain Forum site.